East York

 

Location:  City of Toronto      N 43.69141   W -79.32736

In front of the East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Avenue.

 

 

The memorial was erected to mark courage and sacrifice of those who served their country during times of war, military conflict and peace.  It consists of several large slabs of granite melded together to form a large and imposing cenotaph in front of the East York Civic Centre.   A small plaque indicates that the memorial was restored by the efforts of the local Legion, Brigadier O.M. Martin Branch 345, but no date is given for the restoration or of the original unveiling of this impressive monument.  I have been told of a park behind the Civic Centre that contains a plaque of 120 names of those lost on peacekeeping missions, a location I will visit next time I am in the area.

Marker text:

Front:

SINCE THE EARLIEST CRUSADE

MEN AND WOMEN HAVE SUFFERED

IN THE THROES OF WAR

NOT FOR PERSONAL GAIN OR GLORY

BUT FOR THE PRESERVATION OF AN IDEAL

THAT RIGHTEOUS FREEDOM

MIGHT BE REALISED AS A REWARD

TO ALL MANKIND

THUS WE, THE CITIZENS OF EAST YORK

ERECT THIS SYMBOL TO COMMEMORATE

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

THOSE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES

OR WERE INCAPACITATED

SERVING THE CAUSE OF SUCH FREEDOM

IN THE VICTORIOUS WARS OF

1914 1918          1939 1945

PRAY THAT THE CRUSADE IS NOW ENDED

IN ETERNAL PEACE

1950  KOREA  1953

PEACEKEEPING

 

Back:

1914-1918          1939-1945

IN GRATEFUL TRIBUTE

MAY THEIR SACRIFICE

BE NOT FORGOTTEN

1950  KOREA  1953

AND OUR SPECIAL FORCES